Combined offset and flexographic printing and decorating system

Abstract

The present invention consists of a combined offset and flexographic printing apparatus. The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides apparatus for printing both quasi-random numbers and a plurality of different images on cylindrical objects. In this preferred embodiment, the invention consists of a cylindrical container printing and decorating press incorporating a blanket cylinder with a plurality of peripheral segments on which rubber offset blankets are mounted. A random number printing unit and a polygonal multi-image printing unit are provided between two segments of the blanket cylinder. Preferably, a plurality of random number/multi-image printing unit pairs are provided, one located between each pair of adjacent segments. A plurality of printing stations are arranged around the blanket cylinder, each featuring a master plate for transferring a single color image to the printing faces of the offset blankets, the random number printing units and the hexagonal multi-image printing units. The portion of the image transferred to the printing face of the offset blankets consists of the actual design being transferred to the printed objects. The resultant image transferred from the blanket cylinder to the object being printed is a combination of a pure offset image printed by the offset blankets of the printing cylinder together with flexographic images printed by the printing faces of the random number and hexagonal multi-image printing units.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of simultaneously transferring multiple colored images onto cylindrical objects in a decorating press having a blanket cylinder comprising at least one peripheral printing face with a flexographic printing region comprising engraved patterns and an integral offset printing region comprising the steps of: applying a first pattern of ink to said offset printing region, said first pattern comprising multiple colors;   applying a second pattern of ink to said flexographic printing region;   rotating a first cylinder against said blanket cylinder such that a portion of said first pattern is transferred from said offset printing region of said peripheral printing face to the cylinder and a portion of the engraved pattern of said flexographic region of said peripheral printing face is transferred to the cylinder.   
     
     
       2. The printing method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: applying said first pattern of ink to an offset printing region of a second peripheral printing face;   applying said second pattern of ink to a flexographic printing region of a second peripheral printing face;   rotating a second cylinder against said blanket cylinder such that a portion of said first pattern is transferred from said offset printing region of said second peripheral printing face to said second cylinder and a portion of the engraved pattern of said flexographic region of said second peripheral printing face is transferred to said second cylinder.   
     
     
       3. The printing method of claim 1 wherein said first and said second patterns of ink are applied in a single operation. 
     
     
       4. The printing method of claim 1 wherein said first and second patterns of ink each comprise a plurality of differently colored ink patterns. 
     
     
       5. The printing method of claim 4 wherein each color of ink is applied to said offset printing region and said flexographic region in a single operation. 
     
     
       6. A decorating press for simultaneously transferring multiple color images onto cylindrical objects comprising: a blanket cylinder for simultaneously transferring multiple color images onto said cylindrical objects comprising at least two integral peripheral printing faces;   a first of said peripheral printing faces comprising an offset printing region;   a second of said peripheral printing faces disposed adjacent to said first peripheral printing face, said second peripheral printing face comprising a flexographic printing region comprising a printing plate means and a plurality of flexographic plates.   
     
     
       7. The decorating press of claim 6 wherein said offset printing region comprises a resilient printing blanket and said printing plate means comprises a rotatable polygonal cylinder. 
     
     
       8. The decorating press of claim 7 wherein certain of said flexographic plates are disposed up on the faces of said rotatable polygonal cylinder. 
     
     
       9. The decorating press of claim 7 wherein certain of said flexographic plates are disposed upon a belt, said belt disposed upon a first face of said rotatable polygonal cylinder. 
     
     
       10. The decorating press of claim 9 wherein said belt is entrained about said rotatable polygonal cylinder and a tensioning means. 
     
     
       11. The decorating press of claim 6 further comprising a random number printing unit comprising certain of said flexographic plates, said random number printing unit further comprising: a printing plate means;   a plurality of belts disposed about the printing plate means;   a common idler roller disposed within the belts, and tension means for proving tension to said belts.   
     
     
       12. The decorating press of claim 11 wherein said offset printing region comprises a resilient printing blanket and said printing plate means comprises a rotatable polygonal cylinder and certain of said flexographic plates are disposed upon the faces of said rotatable polygonal cylinder. 
     
     
       13. A decorating press for printing upon cylindrical objects comprising: a blanket cylinder comprising at least one peripheral printing face, said peripheral printing face comprising   an offset printing region and   an integral flexographic printing region disposed adjacent to said offset printing region;   a resilient blanket comprising said offset printing region and said flexographic region; and   a random number printing unit comprising:   a printing plate means;   a plurality of belts disposed about the printing plate means;   a common idler roller disposed within the belts; and   tension means for providing tension to said belts.